FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, DC, March 30, 2018 – Magnet Schools of America (MSA) is pleased to announce the recipients of its Regional Principal of the Year Awards for 2018. Through a competitive application process, these individuals were selected from MSA’s eight regions. They will be recognized during Magnet Schools of America’s 36th National Conference in Chicago, Illinois April 25-29, 2018. They are all eligible to be selected as the National Magnet School Principal of the Year on the last day of the conference.
“These magnet school leaders are committed to providing high-quality learning opportunities for all students. They are recognized as innovators in their profession and are model citizens in their community. They have demonstrated their ability to inspire excellence in their schools and make a lasting, positive impact on the lives of their students,” said Magnet Schools of America, Executive Director Todd Mann.
Regional Principals of the Year are acknowledged by their peers for their exemplary contributions made to their profession and have demonstrated excellence in the following four areas:
To be selected as a Regional Principal of the Year, candidates must first be nominated by their district’s Magnet School Director. Once nominated, they are required to submit a narrative application and three recommendation letters, including one from a parent, one from a community partner, and one from a co-worker or an administrator. In addition, they must be a member of Magnet Schools of America and have served as their school’s principal for a minimum of three years. All applications are reviewed and scored by a panel of magnet educators.
2018 Regional Principals of the Year
REGION I
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont
ARRIA COBURN
The Springfield Renaissance School
Theme(s): Expeditionary Learning (EL) school with a STEM focus
Grade(s): 6-12
Springfield Public Schools
Springfield, Massachusetts
REGION II
Delaware, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, The District of Columbia and International
ERIN O’TOOLE-TRIVAS
Parkville Middle School
Theme(s): Applied Engineering, Sustainable Engineering and Architectural Systems, Visual & Graphic Arts, and Mass Communication
Grade(s): 6-8
Baltimore County Public Schools
Parkville, Maryland
REGION III
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands
RAUL CALZADILLA, JR.
Air Base K-8 Center
Theme(s): International Education; Cambridge Program School
Grade(s): K-8
Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Homestead, Florida
REGION IV
Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee
MICHAEL LOFTON
Spring Hill High School
Theme(s): Career Pathways
Grade(s): 9-12
School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties
Chapin, South Carolina
REGION V
Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas
THERESA COWLING
North Heights Entrepreneurial Leadership Magnet
Theme(s): Entrepreneurial Leadership
Grade(s): 5-6
Texarkana Arkansas School District
Texarkana, Arkansas
REGION VI
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin
JEFF PETERSON
Summit View Elementary
Theme(s): Integrated Arts, Design and Creativity
Grade(s): 4K-5
School District of Waukesha
Waukesha, Wisconsin
REGION VII
Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Montano, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming
MATT CREASMAN
Northeast Magnet High School
Theme(s): Visual Arts, Law & Public Service and Science
Grade(s): 9-12
Wichita Public Schools
Bel Aire, Kansas
REGION VIII
Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, American Samoa, Marianas Islands and Trust Territory of the Pacific
RICHARD SANCHEZ
Mansfeld Magnet Middle School
Theme(s): Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
Grade(s): 6-8
Tucson Unified School District
Tucson, Arizona
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To learn more about Magnet Schools of America’s Principal of the Year Awards, please visit www.magnet.edu
Press Contact: John Laughner, Communications Manager, john.laughner@magnet.edu, 202-824-0672
Raise the level of performance consistent throughout school districts nationwide and creates a platform from which all magnet schools can flourish. Magnet Schools of America’s national certification process is designed to recognize the hard work of the best magnet schools in the nation and to help them as they grow.
